I got this line from Sherry Turkle’s book Alone Together.

Whenever you first meet someone – anyone – you are probably interacting with one of their projected identities.  It is important to realize that this as you get to know people.  It is important to take them at interface value.

If you have just met someone online, that is the beginning of a certain type of relationship.

If you have just met someone face to face, the context of that meeting will govern that type of relationship.

I think it’s great insight.  It’s always dangerous to superimpose what we want to see in the other.  Until you get to know them, to truly know their real identity – take them at interface value.